Movie Magazine International - Movie Reviews & More

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Fran Strine worked on his documentary “Hired Gun” for three years, where he interviewed 55 backup musicians to major artists such such as Alice Cooper Metallica and Pink. They are referred to as "Hired Guns" - assassins - and are the best around that go on music tours with major artists. According to one artist there are about 20 musicians - hired guns - on every single record that everyone ones. The reality of their lives and the ups and downs of their careers are captured by the filmmaker. It was Strine’s ambition to make a different documentary with profiles of the inner lives of these excellent musicians. Two of the interviewees are the drummer Liberty DeVitto and guitarist Russell Javors. Both of them worked for and were replaced by other musicians by Billy Joel –De Vitto had worked for him for 30 years. Nita Strauss, one of the hired Guns featured in the film, has played for Alice Cooper, Jermaine Jackson, Femme Fatale Critical Hit and the The Iron Maidens. She reports that you have to be "on point all of the time".

A hired gun is usually hired at the last minute and so Fran STrine emphasizes that these have to be the best - not only a great musician but someone with a personality that helps to make a great gig. And that means being great every time to keep getting gigs.

The documentary is unique in giving us a backstage view of "Hired Guns" -the unsung heroes who make major artists sound great. There has not been such a focus yet and Fran Strine hits a home run in his assemblage of these musicians that make rock gigs rock.

The film will be shown as special one day event on Thursday June 20 produced by FATHOM EVENTS in theaters across the US and her in the Bay Area it will be at AMC Van Ness in San Francisco and theaters in Daly City 20 and Century at Tanforan in San Bruno. But it is going to be an exceptional one day screening with the best sound theaters, with sound mixing by Lucas Skywalker Ranch.

Fran Strine was overjoyed when Lucas actually asked to mix the sound for the film and it was one of many aspects of this riveting rock spectacle that fell into place. Originally a photographer, Strine is an excellent videographer and was on tour with the heavy metal band "Five Finger Death Punch". That includes their extensive tours national and internationally.

The crystal clear image of "Hired Gun" on widescreen projection with photography by Gavin Fisher with super sound mixed by Skywalker Ranch is sure to be one of this year major rock music video events.

Here now is San Francisco local Fran Strine in an exclusive interview for Movie Magazine International. (interview follows).

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Jayne Mansfield in "Mansfield 66/67". Frameline41. Used with permission.

By Moira Sullivan

Towards the end of the Frameline are several films worthy of mention. On June 22 "Hot to Trot" will be screened at the Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley. The film is directed and produced by Gail Freedman. This is a look back documentary at four international dancers as they enter same-sex ballroom dance competition at the 2014 Gay Games: the Costa Rican Ernesto, Russian Nikolai New Zealander Kieren and the American Emily .

On June 23 is "Signature Move" at the Castro Theatre and June 24 at Landmark Theatres in Piedmont directed by Jennifer Reeder. Zaynab Qadir , a Muslim lawyer is involved in lucha libre-style wrestling. She is a member of Chicago’s Pakistani community and unbeknownst to her family is a lesbian. Next door neighbor Parveen tries to match Zaynab with a husband, afer spying on her with binocularsAt the same time Zaynab meets the former Chicana wrester Alma (Sari Sanchez) and a real romance is brewing.

On June 24 at the Roxie, the best feature film at the 2016 TIFF film festival will be screened: "Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves", directed by Mathieu Denis and Simon Lavoie. This is a fictionalized account of the aftermath of the 2012 “Maple Spring” student protests in Quebec. The activists used anthrax hoaxes, public defacement, and homemade explosives to get their message across.

Back by popular demand is Season 1 – episode 195 Lewis 0 of the popular TV series BKPI . It will screen as "Woke Women MixTape" on June 24 at the Roxie. The cast includes Mo (Hye Yun Park), a lesbian Korean American health aide, Dawn (Celine Justice), an African American MTA worker, and Iram (Dina Shihabi), an Arab American bodega owner. The trio works to solve crimes within the immigrant population in Brooklyn.

A new documentary on Jayne Mansfied - "Mansfied 66/67" directed by P. David Ebersole & Todd Hughes on June 24 at the Castro features interviews with Peaches Christ, John Waters, Kenneth Anger, Tippy Hedren and more. The film also looks at Mansfield’s relationship with San Francisco’s Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan and circumstances that might have led to her death.

Playing about the time of the Dyke March on June 24 The Devil is in the Detail short film program by international artists on lesbian themes.

Closing Night Film "After Louie" – is the debut feature of Vincent Gagliostro. The film's protagonist Sam (Alan Cumming) hails from the onslaught of HIV/AIDS and is skeptical of a younger generation of gay men and their lack of political commitment or conviction but when he meets the young Braeden, he becomes open to possibilities. Alan Cumming will be the recipient of the 2017FRAMELINE AWARD on June 25.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

The largest ongoing LGBT film festival in the world, Frameline41, the San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, will take place June 15-25, 2017. This year there are films from over 19 countries and the good news is 40 percent of the films are made by women directors. Here are some highlights:

AFTER LOUIE - Closing Night Film, on June 25, the debut feature of Vincent Gagliostro in a West Coast Premiere. The film's protagonist Sam (Alan Cumming) hails from the onslaught of HIV/AIDS in the 80's and 90's and was an ACT UP activist. He is skeptical of a younger generation of gay men and their lack of political commitment or convictions but when he meets the young Braeden, he becomes open to new ways of thinking. Alan Cumming will be the recipient of the 2017 FRAMELINE AWARD.

CENTERPIECE features include BECKS by Daniel Powell and Elizabeth Rohrbaugh. When Becks' lover leaves her for a younger woman she moves home with her ex-nun mother played by Christine Lahti - and when she least expects it finds romance in the Midwest. Plays on June 21

CHAVELA is a documentary directed by Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi about the famous Costa Rican Mexican singer Chavela Vargas who died in 2012. She was in several of Pedro Almodóvars films and sang the soulful "Paloma Negra" (Black Dove) in Julie Taymor’s 2002 film "Frida". Screens June 19.

Other noteworthy films are THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON by David France, which investigates the 1992 death of transgender pioneer Marsha P. Johnson. In the course of making the film interviews her friend and comrade Sylvia River both instrumental in the modern trans rights movement. June 22.

One classic film not to miss is LOOKING FOR LANGSTON, by Isaac Julien, a digital restoration of the 1989 poetic treatise of the Harlem Renaissance. June 19. Another is Donna Deitch's classic lesbian romance DESERT HEARTS from 1985 in a new digital restoration.

GIRL UNBOUND, by Erin Heidenreich takes a look at a high ranking female squash player in Pakistan who has been playing since here teens but had received death threats from the Taliban but who refuses to stop. June 18.

There are many more films at the festival that deserve mention and these are only a few of the excellent choices made by programmer Des Buford who is planning to retire from the festival after many years of service and go on to new opportunities.